The stadium was named after the road in which it was constructed, which linked Barcelona and Sarrià. Construction began on 31 December 1922 under the supervision of architect Matías Colmenares, and the cost was 170,000 pesetas. The initial forecast capacity was for 40,000 spectators, but due to the bankruptcy of the construction company the initial capacity was only for 10,000 spectators. The opening game was played on 18 February 1923 with RCD Espanyol beating UE Sants 4-1, the first goal scored by Vicenç Tonijuan. In 1929 the club won its first Cup in Spain. On 10 February, at the stadium, 'Pitus' Prats scored the first goal of the first Spanish league title. However, although the club won several Catalan Championships they had to wait until 1940 before winning their second cup in Spain.
Successive enlargements
In 1948, Espanyol under club president Paco Saenz, repurchased the stadium, which until then belonged to Riva family, for 5 million pesetas. In 1951 terracing behind the south goal was demolished, and a new grandstand was built which was overlaid in 1956. In 1960 floodlights were installed. During the 1960s, several outstanding players such as Cayetano Re, Martial, Rodilla, Jose Maria and Peck played at the Sarrià Stadium, but especially noteworthy were Ladislao Kubala and Alfredo Di Stefano who finished his career there. Manuel Meler, the president at the time, completed the southern tier raised above the new gallery, installed the lower side and reconstructed the north stand, all in twelve years.
The 1980s and 1990s
1982 World Cup
The Sarrià stadium hosted three games of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, with the three matches of Group C in the second round round robin matches, with three of the favourites for the cup playing in this group: Argentina, Brazil, and eventual champions Italy. The key game was the third, in which Italy defeated Brazil 3-2, in a match widely regarded as one of the best ever played at a World Cup. The Sarrià stadium was heavily criticized for being too small to host these matches; as these matches were packed to capacity, unlike the Sarrià's sister venue, the Camp Nou stadium, which hosted three European teams in the stage of round robin matches that stadium ended up hosting. None of the Camp Nou's second round robin matches contained more than 65,000 of the Camp Nou's 100,000 total capacity. However, other people believe that the overcrowding created an electric atmosphere which added to the sense of occasion.
